As I have written on this blog before, the US journalist/polemicist Ann Coulter is someone I hugely admire. Her wit, incisiveness and bravery set a standard to which most cannot aspire to meet. Her books, such as the most recent ‘Adios America: The Left’s Plan to Turn America into a Third-World Hellhole’ represent an essential, clear-eyed view of the American political scene and are well-worth seeking out, even if you live outside of the United States.

With that said, I must offer a word of admonition following Coulter’s latest controversy. As you may already be aware, Coulter sent out some highly inflammatory tweets during the second CNN Republican debate, most of which involved Jews and Israel. Here they are:

“How many f—ing Jews do these people think there are in the United States?”

“I like the Jews, I like fetuses, I like Reagan. Didn’t need to hear applause lines about them all night”

“Cruz, Huckabee Rubio all mentioned ISRAEL in their response to: ‘What will AMERICA look like after you are president”

“Boy were they wrong @ Jewish influence! I complained about pandering on Israel (Reagan & abortion) & haven’t heard a thing about it!”

Coulter’s outbursts have attracted much ire from both the right and the left. Of this ire, only that from the right is worth considering. As someone who watched the debate, I can report that very little time was given to discussing Israel, and while the country did come up, it was in response to questions over foreign policy (specifically Iran).

Coulter’s mistake is to consider the concerns of Israel as distinct to the concerns of America and the West. Israel is an integral part of the West, and shares many of its anxieties. Viewed in that context, Ann’s complaints are null and void.